On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family' s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

Check out Michelangelo’s beautiful work and other sources on the Italian icon HERE!

“Caterina, a great adventure is in store for you.”

I’ve mentally cast Lucy Hale from PLL as Cat.

Cat Crawford comes from your typical Hollywood family: broken with baggage. Her father is a Hollywood executive, and her mother is an actress with a scandalous existence that guarantees she gets lip-service on every tabloid in the country. There’s a new ”mom” in town, and Cat is struggling to reconcile the bitterness she feels from her mother’s abandonment, with the annoying and over-eager woman her father has moved on with. Cat’s step-mom is eager to bond, and is planning a Sweet Sixteen birthday bash for Cat that’s fit for Hollywood royalty. It’s the complete opposite of what Cat wants. As a peace oferring and attempt at family bonding, Cat, her father, and step-mom embark on a trip to Florence, Italy.

Florence, Italy (Firenze)

Cat has always wanted to visit Italy. She has ancestral roots there from her mother’s side of the family, and the history and architecture call to Cat’s artistic nature. While taking in the sites by her lonesome, Cat stumbles upon a ”gypsy tent”, and can’t resist the urge to see what the fortune teller inside has to offer. Thus, the fun begins.

Cat Crawford is a well developed character that has all the charm of a young Pheobe Cates from Princess Caraboo. You will find yourself sympathizing with and relating to her . I felt like I absorbed the life lessons that Cat learned during her time warp to Renaissance Firenze. Her adaptation to the dated surroundings were exciting to experience from her curious POV. Rachel Harris dares to do what we have all always wanted to do if we went back in time: Show our futuristic goods. Cat shows her phone and ipod to her Renaissance relative, Alessandra. (FYI, Cat’s cousin from the past doesn’t explode upon seeing technology.) Alessandra is Cat’s sweet and naive cousin that helps anchor her to this time zone. Cat follows Allesandra’s lead when it comes to fitting in.

A painting of the Piazza del Mercato Vecchio, where Cat first lays eyes on Lorenzo.

This mystical adventure gives Cat more than she bargains for when she finds herself falling for the local charmer, Lorenzo. His sand-colored curls, and dashing good-looks aren’t the only things Cat has fallen victim to. Lorenzo moonlights as an artist, and has the secret soul of a poet. Cat’s in trouble with this one. How can she fall in love with a boy that lives in a different century?!

“Time seems to stop, and the sounds of the market mute. Alessandra was right. This boy is beautiful.

And he’s looking at me.

Lorenzo’s full peach-colored lips form a devastating smile, exposing one slightly crooked tooth. He kneels down in front of me and takes my hand in his.

” You are an angel, a vision sent from Signore.”

[…..]

Obviously this guy is a player and used to girls falling at his feet. Unfortunately for him, I’m not gonna be one of them.

Lorenzo stands and plants a kiss across my knuckles, a move straight out of a romance novel. He winks, undeterred by my lack of a swoon, and with his free hand runs his fingers through his curly golden locks.

I could see Jeremy Sumptor cast as Lorenzo with his hair lightened up a bit.

Rachel Harris has managed to pull a page (or some magic) out of the 80’s and early 90’s with this fun, feel-good book. It was reminiscent of those movie masterpieces like Back to the Future, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and Only You. When I read the part about the gypsy tent, I knew I was in for a good time. Read this book, and let Rachel Harris take you on a whirlwind adventure through 1500’s Florence. Cat’s time spent in a historical century proves to change more than her perspective of the time period, it also teaches her a little something about family, freedom, forgiveness, and love. On top of the exploring, romance, and adventure, there are awesome ‘‘oh, my geee” moments when Cat rubs sleeves with a certain Michelangelo, and sees his statue of David before it’s famous. This is the kind of book that you will want to keep in the family, and pass down to your daughters. Ciao!

Classical music nerd by day, freelance writer and blogger by night. When I review books, I don't dish out and rehash every character and detail. What's the point of reading a book if you give most of the deets away in a review??? My reviews are more about my impressions and over all experience with the book. I am also a world-renowned armchair psychologist, and love to psychoanalyze authors.